Beluga Whale Niche--Finding Buried Treasures in Google Analytics
This year, one of my goals has to been to get to know my google analytics account better. You know, taking it out to dinner, discussing our hopes and fears together...that level of understanding.
One place that never fails to fascinate me when digging through all the pages (most of which still puzzle me) is the list of search queries that somehow bring people to my site.
I know that some people like to see these as "keywords", and if you blog within a specific niche chances are you will see tons of terms related to your main topic.
Since So Not Niche is (obviously) a bit more sporadic, so are the queries. Therefore, rather than think of them as keywords, I like to pretend they are questions awaiting answers. Some of them are phrased as questions, but others are more of a challenge...
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Using Your Analytics Stats to Find Post Topics
Just like the clues on Jeopardy, you might see a statement or (omg) a single word in your GA search queries.
Even worse are three or four words that seem to have no relationship at all (I'm guessing I've been found by a toddler playing with a smartphone somewhere.)
Example: "geek dandelion" What does that even mean? (Nothing. Think of those queries as someone drunk dialing Google.)
Therefore, just for the fun of it (because I like fun-of-it almost as much as I like pizza), every week I'm going to address one of these queries and see if I can find answers.
Earlier this year I remember giggling when I saw "Are Cheez-It's Boring" in my query list . Since posting my history of Crayola crayons, the term "jumbo crayons fun" has cropped up dozens of times.
Some of them are reasonably serious queries (most searching for information about Walmart Savings Catcher, PicMonkey art tutorials, crayons and Weebly.)
I think that most of them deserve some sort of response.
In fact, if you haven't peeked at your search queries on GA, then you should. They can give you some amazing insight about:
So there you have it. Other blogger's share income reports or photos of their new lipstick. My income reports are too dismal to share at the moment and I don't have any amazing lipstick.
Instead, I'm going to delve into the dark shadows of search engine logic.
It might not be the most logical or business-y way to use those analytics, but hopefully it will inspire you to dig into yours and see if you can find usuable materials.
Also, I might get lucky and actually help someone who is searching the internet late at night for an answer or just some entertainment.
And this week's topic is:
Beluga Whale Niche
Because yep. Someone searched that term, and it led them to my website. That was my inspiration to really take apart Google Analytics and study those search habits more thoroughly.
Naturally, I at first thought they were asking if there was a profitable blogging niche devoted to beluga whales, or what niche beluga whales might blog under.
(Because that is what blogging does to our brains.)
Even worse are three or four words that seem to have no relationship at all (I'm guessing I've been found by a toddler playing with a smartphone somewhere.)
Example: "geek dandelion" What does that even mean? (Nothing. Think of those queries as someone drunk dialing Google.)
Therefore, just for the fun of it (because I like fun-of-it almost as much as I like pizza), every week I'm going to address one of these queries and see if I can find answers.
Earlier this year I remember giggling when I saw "Are Cheez-It's Boring" in my query list . Since posting my history of Crayola crayons, the term "jumbo crayons fun" has cropped up dozens of times.
Some of them are reasonably serious queries (most searching for information about Walmart Savings Catcher, PicMonkey art tutorials, crayons and Weebly.)
I think that most of them deserve some sort of response.
In fact, if you haven't peeked at your search queries on GA, then you should. They can give you some amazing insight about:
- What people are searching
- Which posts are leading readers to your site
- Various ways people phrase their search terms
- Whether or not they found what they wanted on your site
So there you have it. Other blogger's share income reports or photos of their new lipstick. My income reports are too dismal to share at the moment and I don't have any amazing lipstick.
Instead, I'm going to delve into the dark shadows of search engine logic.
It might not be the most logical or business-y way to use those analytics, but hopefully it will inspire you to dig into yours and see if you can find usuable materials.
Also, I might get lucky and actually help someone who is searching the internet late at night for an answer or just some entertainment.
And this week's topic is:
Beluga Whale Niche
Because yep. Someone searched that term, and it led them to my website. That was my inspiration to really take apart Google Analytics and study those search habits more thoroughly.
Naturally, I at first thought they were asking if there was a profitable blogging niche devoted to beluga whales, or what niche beluga whales might blog under.
(Because that is what blogging does to our brains.)
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Beluga Whales Don't Blog
If you work online as a creative, then you've probably heard the term "niche". Online, it means an area or topic where you focus.
Obviously, beluga whales do not have an online niche. Unless they are masters of internet anonymity, it is doubtful that beluga whales are online blogging about top ten fish recipes.
So why would anyone search for "beluga whale niche?"
Hey, I learned something today too! Apparently an animal's "niche" refers to their specific lifestyle, including where they fall on the food chain. So they are not so different from blogger's after all!
Some Random Facts About Beluga Whales
Beluga whales are easily recognized, even if they aren't the most talked about whales. They don't really look like whales. More like very white dolphins without snouts.
Since all the facts about beluga whales are what makes up their "niche", here are few interesting ones:
- Adult beluga whales are white, but babies are born being either gray or brown.
- They are related to narwhals (so they are obviously magical)
- They like to hang out in Arctic and sometimes subartic waters
- Beluga whales are very social and communicate with each other using various sounds
- Their biggest predators are humans, killer whales and polar bears
- They are very small (for whales) ranging from 9 feet in length to 18 feet.
- They like to eat fish, as well as mollusks and shrimp
- They have happy, smiley faces (probably because they are related to narwhals.)
Beluga Whales In Art
Naturally, the first thing I did was go look at whale art when I saw the term beluga whale. I was not disappointed.
There are some downright adorable paintings and illustrations of beluga whales.
Here are 4 unique pieces that would look darling in a nursery, bathroom or home office:
There are some downright adorable paintings and illustrations of beluga whales.
Here are 4 unique pieces that would look darling in a nursery, bathroom or home office:
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Wrapping Up
So there ya go. Beluga whales do have a niche, and it wetly parallels the virtual version we humans know so well.
It does not mean that there is a huge, profitable blogging niche to be built on beluga whales. It could be possible, but I think your post topics would be severely limited. And I'm not sure "best collars for pet beluga whales" would be a winner.
But, hey, if you try it, let me know!
And if you have some spare change, check out this page to help save and protect belugas from extinction.
Art Tutorial: How to Draw a Whale Doodle
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